The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-09-22
A DAKOTA BLIZZARD.

toward the farm house she called home.
She uAs very tired and the long mile
before her seemed imiermiaable. just
then there was a sound oi wheels, sod q
span Of hay horses came up behied her
Would you like 10 ride home. Miss
WeltoBi" some oDe said
Carrie looked up into the sun brovned
face Of Alexander Hall There vas 20
smile in bis eyes. and The shadow OF
irswu was visible on bis brow.
II thark you--no; prefer 70 walk, ="
Carrie responded,
Very we'll Get up. ponies
And the span and buggy whiflcd past
her, leaving cloud OF dust to settle upon
her linen dress and straw bat as she trndg'
ed along The bighwsy, looking very flush
ed and angry.
The idea OF his thinking would make
up With him in that way. she ssid. men
tally. mo, indeed He will have to
apologize before ride with him again.
could see that be was as set and stubborn
as ever. No doubt be intended to give
me another lecture, and thought this
would be q splendid opportunity. He
will learn tha, have some diguiiy ] can
tell him.
! Carrie was 40 tired she ate but little
supper that night. aud retired early to uer
room TO think over matters IN solitude,
away from the chst,ering tongue OF good
Mrs. Smith, who felt it her solemn duty
to ''entertaiun her boarder. said entertain
ment consisting 10 recitations OF neigbor-
hood affairs past aud present.
When Carrie felt well and happy, and
WAS not worn out with her days work, she
bore it heroicaly. But tonight she was
too nervous to endure the ordeal. Mrs. /
Smiths voice grated upon her nerves like
the filing OF a saw, and she fled to ler
room for protection, pleading headache
In truth it was heartesche which was
the trouble.
During the last six months she and
Alexander Hall had been very good friends
such very good friends that they were,
in fact, lovers, and needed only few
words to belong to each other for all time;
words which would have been spoken ere
this but for an unexpected event.
Smithtown boasted Of two stores, which
OF course we're visited at certain periods
by drummers. One OF these, handsome
dashing fellow had recently made 1t in
his way to pass Sunday in Smithtown
Every one in the little town knew why be
had remained.
He had chaDced to see Carrie Welton
one evening in the store making some pur
chases, aud he was not at all slow to e1-
press his admiration for the teacher. He
begged the favor OF an introduction,
which, owing to the somewhat informal
manner OF Smithtown society, was not
difficult to obtain, since every body knew
every body there, and the handsome agent
seemed very nice fellow indeed, one
whom all the young ladies would be glad
to consider an acquaintance.
Mr.. Parker attended church the follow
ing Sunday and walked home with Carrie
much TO the indignation of Alexander
Hall. He took 1t upon himself to say
some cutting things to Carrie when next
they met, to rebuke her for her readiness
to receive attention from "clothier's
dummy" as he called Mr.. Parker, and
they parted 10 anger; their next meeting
was on the dusty road.
Carrie congratulated herself upon her
behavior. and then she cried herself to
sleep. But she was sure he would come
again in day or two, and then she would !,
be a little more gracious. and take him !,
back into her favor. for really Smithtown
was very dull without him.
But Alex did not come to her the next
day, nor the next, aud whole week went
by without her seeing him. Then
strange report came to her ears.
Alex Hall has an auction today one OF
her pupils remarked
''An auctionl What for?" asked Carrie
sonderingly. !
"Why, he's going away going to take r.
MP claim 10 Dakota. He's sold his farm
to Mr.. Roberts, and today he sells OF his =
horses aud machinery
Does his mother go with him?' asked );
Carrie with q dull pain in her heart. q
"No; she is going to Iowa to her daugh- !.
Ter. OF course the farm belongs to her i,
.nd the money will be hers snd she says
'he doesn't want to go to new country. |
But Alex is wild to go, and pa says he will G
De . rich man in few years that land
,ut thers will sell for big price. 81
II was not very orderly school the
OF that day. Carrie seemed to i
Dc in sort Of nightmare. Could 1t be
ruei Add he was going away without. h,
aging goodbye to her and this shadow in
between themf N,
But be did all the same. Those horri l..
,le days and nights went by. and then she :,
aw him psss the school house on bis way
o the afternoon train which would bear
,iu from Smithtown. II was the noon "
Iour and she and several OF the larger
iris we're sitting under an oak tree seeing
be smaller children play ring around an
he roses" At
As he passed 10y be swung his hat to the VI
hildren, With whom be was q fsvorite,
nd saii Good bye little girls and boys, DC
% of for Dakota be vas gone. W.
How the dreadful weeks wore by Carrie as
.ould never tell. Bot they did go by and st
be end Of term came a, last--in August b,
1 sas three months since Alex hall had re
eft. Mr.. Parker lad visited the town